Shelia Tierney from Killinaule Co.Tipperary, Professor Terri Scott, President of IT Sligo and Tasneem Bashir from Sligo. Sheila and Tasneem were both conferred with PhDs from the School of Science.
The Sam Maguire Cup and a number of the winning team’s players will be special guests at one of the conferring sessions on Thursday including current All Star Player of the Year Karl Lacey and current IT Sligo student Mark McHugh and his father, Martin McHugh who once coached the IT Sligo team.
More than 1,800 graduates were conferred at the annual Conferring Ceremonies this week.
In recognition of the Institute’s scholarship scheme with Sligo Rovers, the Airtricity League Premier Division Trophy also made an appearance at Friday’s Conferring session.
President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott, said it’s a fitting tribute to the team and to the IT Sligo management team that worked with the players during their time at the Institute:
“The IT Sligo representation at the All Ireland Football Final this year was outstanding. Between the Donegal and Mayo panels, 21 of them had studied with us at one point. Their talent was further recognised at the recent GAA All Star Event with one of our graduates Karl Lacey recognised as player of the year.
“Sport is a very important part of college life at IT Sligo and we’re delighted that the Sam Maguire Cup and the Airtricity League Premier Division Trophy are joining us for what is a huge highlight in the academic calendar,” she said.
Commenting on the National Strategy for Higher Education, which is currently being implemented by Government, Professor Scott said IT Sligo is working with its strategic partners in GMIT and LYIT to achieve Technological University designation for the Connacht Ulster region. “Since the outset of the process, IT Sligo has had a clear and resolute vision of what we want to achieve for this region. We want to maintain the same level of high quality education we currently provide, and we want to enhance it further. We also want to continue to act as a catalyst for job creation and economic growth.
“When you look east of the Shannon the numbers of Universities are twofold but the same cannot be said of Connacht and Ulster. For too long this region has suffered from marginalisation and regional imbalance and we are deserving of this designation,” she said.
Encouraging the graduates to be entrepreneurial in their outlook, she quoted the President of the USA Barak Obama who said that; “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realise your true potential.”
Donegal’s Karl Lacey, All Star GAA Player of the Year 2012 and Pat Shovlin, Goalkeeper coach; President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott and current student Mark Mc Hugh at the Conferring Ceremony.
(L-R) Ian Nelligan, Technical and Training Director with the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training; Fergal O’Donovan. Technical Services Director with MSD in Co Cork who graduated with a Masters in Science in Biopharmaceutical Science; Sharon Barrett, Lecturer, IT Sligo; and Kieran Tobin, Programme Manager at IT Sligo’s Centre for Online Learning. Fergal completed his Masters online through IT Sligo and now almost 70 of his colleagues in Co Cork are following in footsteps and up-skilling on online programmes at IT Sligo. Last year Merck Sharp Dohme’s was given an Outstanding Achievement Award for its innovative partnership programme with the (NIBRT) and IT Sligo.
For extracts from the full speech at the 2012 Conferring, please see below:
Conferment November 2012
President’s Address
Cead mile fáilte rombaibh go lear. Tá athais mor orm, bheith anseo libh inniu.
Graduating students, your families and friends and our very welcome guests, I take great pleasure on behalf of the Governing Body and my colleagues in welcoming each of you here today on this proud occasion in the life of the Institute. During the five ceremonies of Conferment during the course of today and tomorrow, the names of 1,820 graduates will be inscribed on our roll of honour.
Graduates – today we are honouring your hard earned success. Your efforts have brought distinction to you personally, to the Institute and to the often unheralded and silent partners in higher education, your inspiring and supportive families and friends. We have a tradition at conferring that we ask all the graduates to take a moment to pay tribute to the support that they’ve received. So if you could please stand up for a moment…….. turn around to your parents, families and friends and give them a big round of applause.
We meet in challenging times. You may already be aware that Government is in the later stages of implementing its National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030. We know this will result in a significant transformation of the higher education landscape – and the establishment of a small number of Technological Universities will be one of the resulting changes. Since the outset of the process, IT Sligo has had a clear and resolute vision of what we want to achieve for this region. We want to maintain the same level of high quality education we currently provide, and we want to enhance it further. We also want to continue to act as a catalyst for job creation and economic growth.
Earlier this year the Taoiseach formally launched a new partnership between IT Sligo, GMIT and LYIT. Under this partnership – which we have called the Connacht Ulster Alliance – we are working to achieve the status of a Technological University. When you look east of the Shannon the numbers of Universities are twofold but the same cannot be said of Connacht and Ulster. For too long this region has suffered from marginalisation and regional imbalance and we are deserving of this designation.
In the meantime, we are continuing to develop our campus and to extend our reach. We’re in the middle of implementing a €18 million capital development programme. You may have noticed that work is currently underway includes a new three storey Science Building and the refurbishment of the older part of the 1970s building.
The role of Higher Education Institutions has never been more important as our country recovers from the impact of recession. This region and this country have had some difficult yesterdays, but I believe that together we can accept the challenge of what Yeats referred to as “looking into the eye of the day” and achieve more confident tomorrows. The key to this is the liberation and realisation of potential through higher education.
The employment market is challenging and I doubt that there is a family here today that hasn’t been touched by unemployment and emigration. However, we have reason to be optimistic. In a recent 2012 Graduate Recruitment Survey, 95% of companies said they would be recruiting this year – up from 67% in 2010.
I recommend that our graduating students register with the gradireland website so that you can alerted to and access information on employment opportunities. We will also be launching a new dedicated virtual graduate resource through our careers office in the coming months. We will be providing updates through our website and social media channels so please ensure you like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and join the Official IT Sligo Alumni LinkedIn group.
I know that many of you will also be creating employment as the next generation of entrepreneurs.
I would strongly encourage all our graduating students, either individually or in groups, to follow your hearts if you have a business idea. It’s understandable to be held back by the fear of failure but we should take inspiration from the many role models that inspire us.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg made his millions by the age of 30 and who’s to say that we don’t have the next Mark Zuckerberg in our graduating class today? The Ernst and Young ‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ was won in the last couple of weeks by a young Galway internet entrepreneur, Paul Kenny, who founded an equivalent of the ‘GroupOn’ website. It’s now the leading daily-deal website in the Middle East.
This year we have had our first ‘spin-out’ company success at IT Sligo. Clever Miles is developing a unique software system that Incentivises & Rewards Safe driving among young people. Some of the team working in the company were part of the IT Sligo team that won first prize in the world last year at the prestigious student technology competition, the Microsoft Imagine Cup. They were the first team from Ireland to win the prize and it’s wonderful to see the company develop now on campus in our Innovation Centre.
So, if you find that you have a business idea or need assistance with a business plan or securing funding, don’t forget that our innovation Centre on campus has lots offer in terms of support.
They say that if you can find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.
A figure in the news this week that seems to relish his job – difficult though it may be – is the US President Barak Obama. His successful re-election at a time when the US is experiencing such a difficult recession is commendable. He recently remarked that; “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realise your true potential.”
So, please, go out and hitch your wagon to whatever it is that inspires you most.
Some special guests are going to join us now and following their dreams has certainly paid off for them. We have a very strong sporting tradition here at IT Sligo – right across the spectrum from soccer and GAA, to surfing, golf and racquetball.
We were particularly proud this year when the All Ireland final teams of Mayo and Donegal included 21 of our graduates and current students. It’s been a while since Sam Maguire has been resident in this part of the country but and we’re delighted to welcome the Cup and some of the Donegal team members who studied at IT Sligo to join in our celebrations today.
So I take great delight in introducing you the GAA All Star Player of the Year, Karl Lacey; Mark McHugh who’s currently studying Accounting with us; his father Martin who has been influential in IT Sligo GAA culture having coached our Sigerson team some years ago; players Paul Durcan, Barry Dunnion and Christy Toye; and goalkeeper coach, Pat Shovlin. Carrying the cup is the IT Sligo Club Chairman Michael Breslin.
The graduates we congratulate and honour here today are now part of our history at IT Sligo. But the past is merely a prologue to the future; a future that I hope will bring the rewards you so richly deserve. Each of you has my promise that our doors will be open when you seek new qualifications or personal fulfilment as you progress in your career and along your life path. As you may know, we are the national leaders in the provision of online learning. Our innovations in this field were recognised again just a few months ago when the Taoiseach Enda Kenny awarded us with a Public Service Excellence Award in recognition of our role in increasing access to higher education through online delivery. This year we have online students graduating from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Trinidad and Tobago – and I know some of them are amongst us today. So wherever you find yourself in years to come, you can return to your alma mater for the next step in your education. Because always remember that learning is like rowing upstream. Not to advance is to drop back.
I thank you all – the graduates, parents, members of the Governing Body, staff of the Institute and distinguished guests – for your participating in making this conferring ceremony such a special and dignified occasion.
Comhghairdeás agus adh mór libh go leir.
Go raith maith agaibh
 Philip Nuno from Ghana who was conferred with a Bachelor of Science in Computing in Systems and Networks pictured with his wife Victoria, his daughter Rachel and his lecturer Padraig Harte.
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 Pictured here is Donna Ryder from Newport, Co. Mayo and John Tighe from Ballymote Co. Sligo with lecturers Kerry Larkin, Roddy Gaynor and Paula Roddy. Donna and John are Sports Scholarship students at IT Sligo. They were both conferred with a Bachelor of Business in Recreation and Leisure. |
 `Pictured here are the Erasmus students who all conferred with a Bachelor of Business (Honours) in International Marketing.
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 Enda Regan (centre) from Boyle Co.Roscommon pictured with his family and Padraig Harte (left), Lecturer in Computing. Enda was conferred with a Bachelor of Business in Marketing. |
 Pictured here is Laura Leonard from Lucan Co. Dublin. Laura was conferred with a Higher Certificate in Custodial Care from IT Sligo.
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 Pictured here are Ann Higgins, Head of Department of Marketing, Tourism and Sport, with her son Andrew. Andrew was conferred with a Bachelor of Business in Applied Tourism. |